Sealing device for shipping cases



Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES ABRAHAM H. GOODVIIN, OF NEVT YORK, N. Y.

SEALING DEVICE FOR SHIPPING CASES.

Application filed Septemb r 19, 1923.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABRAHAM H. GoonwiN, a citizen of the United btates, and resident of New York. in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sealing Devices for Shipping Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement on cer tain of the forms of sealing devices disclosed and broadly claimed in my prior Patents 1,391,470, 1,423,317, and 1,443,681.

My improved device includes a pair of members, one adapted to be carried by a wall of the case, and the other to be carried by or project downwardly from the cover, the-two members being adapted to interengage within the case when the cover is closed so that the cover cannot be opened without cutting or breaking one or more walls of the case or the boards thereof, and leaving tell-tal evidence that the case has been tampered with.

The main object of my present invention is to reduce the cost of manufacture, simplify the construction of the parts, secure greater rigidity and strength of the parts, and reduce to a minimum the space within the case which is occupied by the device.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portionof a case as it would appear when sealed by my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5' is a view of the inner side of the case wall and the locking member carried thereby.

Although my invention may be employed in connection with various types of shipping cases, I have illustrated it in connection with a case having a side wall 10 and a cover 11, both formed of wooden boards. Extending vertically across the side wall and horizontally across the cover and bottom are cleats, bars or strips 12 and 13 which lie at right angles to the boards forming the top, side and bottom walls so that by securing the cleats together at the corners all of the boards are locked in position.

The case may be rovided with a cleat extending across the cover and my improved device may be used at opposite ends of this cleat, or there may be. any desired number Serial No. 663,683.

the locking devices may be used for holding the cover in place, or in connection with each separate board of the cover if desired.

I do not wish to be limited to the specific position or character of use of the device.

In the form illustrated one member of the device is adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the wall of the case adjacent to the upper edge thereof. This member includes a base plate 14 adapted to be secured to the wall in any suitable manner, as for instance by wood screws 15 which may be applied from the inner side of the case and invisible from the exterior. The base plate 14 carries a second plate 16 which has its end portions bent to form terminal flanges 17 and 17 which engage with the base plate and hold the two plates in parallel spaced relationship. Each one of these flanges preferably has an extension or lug 18 projecting through an aperture or'slot in the base plate and riveted over so as to permanently hold the two plates in assembled relationship.

Pivotally mounted between the two plates is a pawl 19 supported by a transversely eX- tending pivot pin .20 disposed adjacent to the flange 17. The pawl normally projects toward the other flange 17 and the free end may swing vertically between the two plates. The two plates are each provided with an upstanding lug or projection 21 adjacent to the flange'fll" and in alignment with the body portions of-the two plates. while one of the plates. for instance the base plate. may have a portion of its upper edge at one end of its lug 21 bent over to form a flange 22 engaging with the upper edge of the other plate to form-a cover or top wall for the space containing the pawl 19. The pawl is normally held in. a substantially horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, by means of a suitable spring 23. This is shown as a piece of steel wire having one end engaging with the under side of the pawl adjacent to the free end of the latter, and with the other end bent laterally and extending into an aperture in one of the plates to. form a pivotal support 24. The spring may be curved and its intermediate 7 portion engage with the flange 17 so that the depression of the free end of the pawl is yieldingly resisted by the spring.

The other member of the locking device is formed of. a bar or strip 25 of flat steel provided with a suitable head 26. This strip of steel is of substantially the same thickness as the plates 14 and 16, and the flanges 1"? and 17 are of such width that the space between the plates forms an easy sliding fit for the member 25. The width of the member 25 is slightly greater than the distance between the flange 17 and the free end of the pawl 19 when the latter is in normal position. Upon inserting the member 25 between the two lugs 21 and between the two plates 16 and 1'? it will engage with the pawl to force the latter downwardly against the spring 28 and the member may slide between-the end of the pawl and the flange 1? The pawl will keep the mei'nber closely adjacent to the flange 17, and any attempt to move the member 25 in the opposite direction will cause the pawl to bind the member against the flange 17 and positively prevent such return movement.

In sealing a case with in improved device, one member is attached to the wall of the case as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and with the lugs 21 projecting slightly above the upper edge of the wall of the case. The cover is then placed in position and pressed down with suflicient force to cause the lugs 21 to mark or slightly enter the under surface of the cover. The cover is then re moved and a hole is cut through the cover at the point marked by the lugs, andof such size as to receivethe lugs and the strip 25. The cover is then replaced in position and the lugs now enter the hole which has been cut in the cover. The member 25 is then inserted through the hole and the hole will guide the member between the flanges 21 and into engagement with the flange 17 and pawl 19. The head 26 of the member carried by or projecting inwardly from the cover maybe of any suitable character, but preferably has depending teeth. or flanges which will cut into the upper surface of the cover when the member is pounded down into final position. l/Vhen once in position there is no way of removing it orof getting access to the interengagingparts within the case. and the case cannot be opened except by breaking some of the boards thereof. The consignee upon receiving a case giving evidence of having been broken open may properly refuse to accept the same.

It will of course be evident that my improved device is used in addition tot-he usual means for holding the walls of the case to gether, such as ordinary nails or screws. "It will be apparent that other means might be employed for securing the sealing device in place in the case. Instead of using the screws there might beemployed'ordinary bolts extending inwardly from theouter surface of the case with ordinary nuts on the inner ends. The heads should be. rounded, countersunk, .or otherwise formed so that they cannot berotatedby the application of a tool to the outer end. I do not wish to be limited to the use of a flat strip for the member 25. In some constructions an ordinary nail might be employed which could be first driven through the cover from the inner surface at the point marked by the flanges 21. Then itcould be pulled out and after the cover is placed in position the nail could be driven back through the same hole from the outer surface so that it would be properly guided intothe space between the pawl and the flange or end wall 17. Such a nail or the strip might be slightly roughened if desired to facilitate proper engagement with the pawl, although this is not ordinarily necessary. The flanges 21 are shown as mere rectangular extensions but they might be made materially lower than illustrated and might be pointed. The hole through the cover and through which the strip 25 is inserted may be a round one formed by an ordinary bead, and therefore the head 26 should be quite materi'ally largei' than the width of the strip.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device adapted for use in sealing cases including a base plate adapted to be secured to the inner surface of a side wall of the case, a second plate havingterminal flanges at opposite ends ext-ending at right angles thereto [and secured to said base plate and holding said plates in parallel spaced relationship, one of said plates having an upwardly extending lug adjacent to one of said flanges and a pawl pivotally mounted between said plates adjacent to the other flange, and a cover securing member including a strip of a thickness substantially equal to the distance between said plates and adapted to enter between said lugs and between said plates and into locking en gagement between said pawl and one of said flanges.

' 2. A device adapted for use in sealing cases, including a base plate adaptedto be secured to the inner surface of a side wallof the case, a second plate having terminal flanges at opposite ends extending at right angles thereto andsecured to said base plate and holding said plates in parallel spaced relationship, a pawl pivotally mounted between said plates adjacent to one of said flanges and extending toward the other, a spring having one end secured to one of said plates and the opposite end engaging with said lug to yieldingly resist depression of the free end of the pawl, and a cover locking member including a strip of a thick ness substantially equal to the distance between s'aid plates and adapted to be inserted between said vpawl and one of said flanges to depress saidpaw1,.the .engagementof said pawl with said spring serving to prevent withdrawal of the strip.

3. A sealing device for shipping cases, including a retainer adapted to be secured to the inner wall of the case and presenting a pair of spaced plates, one having a flange extending upwardly and adapted to enter the inner surface of the cover, a spring pressed pawl pivoted between said plates, and a locking member adapted to be inserted through said cover bet-ween said flanges and into engagement with said pawl, said locking member being in the form of a flat strip of a thickness substantially equal to the distance between said plates, and having one edge adapted to engage with said pawl.

at. A sealing device for shipping cases, including a retainer adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the wall thereof, and having a spring pressed pawl, a locking member adapted to be inserted through the cover and into interlocking engagement with said pawl, said locking member having a body portion in the form of a substantially flat strip, and a head portion having dependingflanges adapted to be forced into the outer surface of the cover.

5. A sealing device for shipping cases,

including a retainer adapted to be secured to the inner surface of a wall thereof, including a pair of spaced plates, one of said plates having flanges engaging with the other plate to hold the two plates in parallel spaced relationship, and one of said plates having a marginal flange covering a portion of the space between said plates, and leaving an aperture adjacent to one end, a spring pressed pawl pivoted bene'ath said last mentioned flange, and a locking member adapted to be inserted through the cover and through said aperture into engagement with said pawl.

6. A locking device for shipping cases, including a locking member having a circular head presenting depending peripheral teeth and a flat strip body portion, and a retainer adapted to be secured to the inner surface of a Wall of the case, and having means for interlocking engagement with said body portion to prevent the withdrawal of said locking member.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 13th day of September A. D. 1923.

ABRAHAM H. GOODWIN. 

